There is a wonderfully complex [[#|relationship]] between words and images/sign...that is one thing I miss in your writing/work [to date] - the [[#|relationship]] you use is a unary one...almost as if your plays could be radio plays...we can talk about this if you want.
Scott vs The Emperor Jones
The first thing I want to establish about my [[#|work]] and thoughts on this [[#|play]] is that I do not enjoy the text. I understand what it tries to convey and the context that it's coming from, however, I am just not a fan of theatre from that specific [[#|era]], ie. the 1920s. My main frustration is that I just can't warm to the dialogue, as an actor it isn't a play that I'd want to perform.
That being said I do enjoy the imagery of the text and the atmosphere of the piece, particularly with the grandiose characters with large egos and personalities. The Emperor Jones reminds me of the classic literature feel that came with other texts such as Heart of Darkness and [[#|Great Expectations]] (Skinner's character reminds me of the morally-questionable characters belonging to a Dickens' era). While I enjoy the themes and intensity of these pieces, I find that there's often too much bullshit to cut through in order to get these messages. I feel this could be a leading reason that many younger generations find it difficult to connect with these texts.
[[#|The Emperor]] Jones is a text in which the themes are quite heavily obvious, if I were to search for specific links to other texts I would bypass the obvious links to colonialist texts and head straight to classic ones such as Oedipus, Julius Caesar, and Antigone.
I find the most interesting and outstanding theme for me is that of hubris; the vain, glorious pride of the anti-hero. Excellent The idea of hubris being an actual physical presence that stalks, GREAT hounds, and eventually trips up a character on his/her journey is an intriguing one. It has nothing to do with birthright, other characters, your wrongs and your rights, but ultimately it comes down to your mentality. It comes down to whether or not you humbly accept your life and strive towards a [[#|greater good]], or whether you abuse the morality of those around you and compromise your own.
With my interpretation of the set of [[#|The Emperor]] Jones, I want to explore this idea that Brutus' pride has run out of control. That the occurrences within the play are a result of one man's exploitative actions and how this nightmare is his own. The main idea is that if there is a change in the set, it happens because Brutus physically makes it happen.
More!!! But I like the way you connect your ideas to the [[#|action]].
Actually quite an enjoyable assignment to write. Hope you enjoy the examples I picked.
Scott vs The First Design
I don't always take criticism well, do any of us? I find that you and I butt heads over my design a bit Serge. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely respect you and love all of your feedback but sometimes I'm prone to being a prissy little princess.
After going away for a bit, I decided to tackle the design as I would an essay: by looking for intertextual links. The link that I kept coming up with, a recurring theme in similar texts that sprung to mind while reading The Emperor Jones, was that of tyranny, and specifically The Third Reich. For me, I find WWII and the literature and art that stemmed from it as such a rich source of information and emotion. These range from massively moving books like The Book Thief, to movies like Shutter Island, and plays like After The Fall. All are distinctly different and, while based around the same events, they all present them in unique ways that transcend time and can hit anyone and everyone like a ton of bricks.
So I'm now running with this idea, with Daley, as always, supporting me with this turn. Luckily it shouldn't impact costume too much , and if anything it complements his current ideas.
So we're stripping it back and building it back up. We've outlawed the use of the word 'totem' but kept the idea of grand roman pillars (this links into the Julius Caesar references and Nazi imagery: the Romans built the roads and Hitler built the V-Dub). We're keeping the Ice Throne as that in itself is an interesting image that encapsulates tyranny: it is a throne but it is only temporary. It can crack or thaw at any moment. The raised flats are now forged out of human bodies (not unlike the piles of bodies at mass grave sites or in gas chambers) and can allow Smithers and the negro woman to blend in rather than actually exiting; an image I find a lot more haunting and creepy, as though Brutus sits atop all of these people to raise himself up higher. The curtains that encircle the stage are to now be made from several layers of transparent material. Images reflecting Brutus' past and his crimes will be projected onto these, with the addition of brief flashes of historical footage from tyrannical regimes. We are also keeping the idea of a black and white chessboard that is covered by the cape that Brutus drags on when he enters the forrest.
HD please?
There is a wonderfully complex [[#|relationship]] between words and images/sign...that is one thing I miss in your writing/work [to date] - the [[#|relationship]] you use is a unary one...almost as if your plays could be radio plays...we can talk about this if you want.
Scott vs The Emperor Jones
The first thing I want to establish about my [[#|work]] and thoughts on this [[#|play]] is that I do not enjoy the text. I understand what it tries to convey and the context that it's coming from, however, I am just not a fan of theatre from that specific [[#|era]], ie. the 1920s. My main frustration is that I just can't warm to the dialogue, as an actor it isn't a play that I'd want to perform.
That being said I do enjoy the imagery of the text and the atmosphere of the piece, particularly with the grandiose characters with large egos and personalities.
The Emperor Jones reminds me of the classic literature feel that came with other texts such as Heart of Darkness and [[#|Great Expectations]] (Skinner's character reminds me of the morally-questionable characters belonging to a Dickens' era). While I enjoy the themes and intensity of these pieces, I find that there's often too much bullshit to cut through in order to get these messages. I feel this could be a leading reason that many younger generations find it difficult to connect with these texts.
[[#|The Emperor]] Jones is a text in which the themes are quite heavily obvious, if I were to search for specific links to other texts I would bypass the obvious links to colonialist texts and head straight to classic ones such as Oedipus, Julius Caesar, and Antigone.
I find the most interesting and outstanding theme for me is that of hubris; the vain, glorious pride of the anti-hero. Excellent The idea of hubris being an actual physical presence that stalks, GREAT hounds, and eventually trips up a character on his/her journey is an intriguing one. It has nothing to do with birthright, other characters, your wrongs and your rights, but ultimately it comes down to your mentality. It comes down to whether or not you humbly accept your life and strive towards a [[#|greater good]], or whether you abuse the morality of those around you and compromise your own.
With my interpretation of the set of [[#|The Emperor]] Jones, I want to explore this idea that Brutus' pride has run out of control. That the occurrences within the play are a result of one man's exploitative actions and how this nightmare is his own. The main idea is that if there is a change in the set, it happens because Brutus physically makes it happen.
More!!! But I like the way you connect your ideas to the [[#|action]].
Scott vs The Essay
Actually quite an enjoyable assignment to write. Hope you enjoy the examples I picked.
Scott vs The First Design
I don't always take criticism well, do any of us? I find that you and I butt heads over my design a bit Serge. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely respect you and love all of your feedback but sometimes I'm prone to being a prissy little princess.
After going away for a bit, I decided to tackle the design as I would an essay: by looking for intertextual links. The link that I kept coming up with, a recurring theme in similar texts that sprung to mind while reading The Emperor Jones, was that of tyranny, and specifically The Third Reich. For me, I find WWII and the literature and art that stemmed from it as such a rich source of information and emotion. These range from massively moving books like The Book Thief, to movies like Shutter Island, and plays like After The Fall. All are distinctly different and, while based around the same events, they all present them in unique ways that transcend time and can hit anyone and everyone like a ton of bricks.
So I'm now running with this idea, with Daley, as always, supporting me with this turn. Luckily it shouldn't impact costume too much , and if anything it complements his current ideas.
So we're stripping it back and building it back up. We've outlawed the use of the word 'totem' but kept the idea of grand roman pillars (this links into the Julius Caesar references and Nazi imagery: the Romans built the roads and Hitler built the V-Dub). We're keeping the Ice Throne as that in itself is an interesting image that encapsulates tyranny: it is a throne but it is only temporary. It can crack or thaw at any moment. The raised flats are now forged out of human bodies (not unlike the piles of bodies at mass grave sites or in gas chambers) and can allow Smithers and the negro woman to blend in rather than actually exiting; an image I find a lot more haunting and creepy, as though Brutus sits atop all of these people to raise himself up higher. The curtains that encircle the stage are to now be made from several layers of transparent material. Images reflecting Brutus' past and his crimes will be projected onto these, with the addition of brief flashes of historical footage from tyrannical regimes. We are also keeping the idea of a black and white chessboard that is covered by the cape that Brutus drags on when he enters the forrest.
Next up: mood boards!